Ruaraidh (Rory) O'Stiubhart was in the Royal Army Medical Corps service number 22812296. We completed his pre-paid funeral plan in 2016, and our funeral directors remember him well. Rory was blind when we met him with his carer at his flat in Thornton Heath. As a veteran of the Armed Forces, he requested military honours [...]
Robert Gandy joined the military to serve his National Service. He joined the elite Parachute Regiment (3 Para). Most people in the National Service never did much, however Robert gained his Jump wings which are hard fought for. During his basic training he won best recruit “The Browning Award” and this was awarded to him [...]
John (Jack) (Tug) Wilson was in the Guards Parachute regiment. Tug served in the Irish Guards and then in the 1st (Guards) Independent Company, The Parachute Regiment. He served at the same time as his son in the same regiment. They can both be seen in the two pictures of the Company. Tug had served [...]
We conducted the funeral of James Tabor, a friend of Tony Rowland who also was the conductor. James served his country in The Royal Navy for his National Service and went on to be civilian staff as a controller for the City of London Police for 25 years. We honoured James with a flag on [...]
HMS Fearless James Smith was a veteran of The Royal Navy. With approximate dates, this is his navy service on board ships: Completed training at HMS Ganges – 1961 (Naval training base) HMS Vincent (Naval Training) HMS Agincourt (Battle class destroyer) HMS Grenville – 1968 (Type 15 frigate) HMS Sheraton 1970 (Minehunter) HMS Blake - [...]
Cpl James (Jim) Carpenter joined the Army at the young age of 16 in 1955 ( Service number 23503886). He was first with the East Surrey Regiment and then the Paras, where he served with 3 of his brothers. He was then selected for the 21 SAS and was stationed at the Chelsea Barracks, Duke [...]
Elsie Eastman was a World War Two Royal Auxiliary Air Force veteran. She was an office worker before and at the beginning of the war decided to do her bit. She joined up and qualified as a navigator. In her eulogy it was said she loved flying in the planes however there were not many [...]
Eileen Bascombe was a leading Aircraftswoman in the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF), she was in the Air Force during the second world war. Eileen base was Chicksands Priory this was her station Z, her roll was a communications officer working at the famous Bletchley Park listening for codes and then passing them onto the [...]
Lt Colonel Kenneth Frederick Travers I think one of the highest ranking veterans to pass through our care. He was called up for national service in 1950. He joined The Royal Artillery. He qualified for officer training. He was trained and manned the 40mm and 3.7 inch anti-aircraft guns. At the end of his [...]
John Rule senior is the father of one of our own here at Rowland Brothers who we looked after on his final journey. At 17 Mr Rule joined the Merchant Navy and spent the next 2 -3 years sailing the world and seeing countries that were almost unheard of back then. On leaving [...]
Charles, who was a Sargent in the Royal Artillery Charles passed at 101 years old. He served in The Royal Artillery in the second World War. Charles fought in the Battle of Normandy Beach on D Day, Arnhem and into Germany. The Union Flag was draped over his coffin, The Royal Artillery Association Standard Bearer [...]
Cyril Songhurst Service number: 23466288 Cyril went into the boy’s service, General service corps until 22.10.57 where he joined the Royal Armoured Corps, he wanted to be a dog handler and an opportunity arose with the Royal Military Police. He joined the RMP 2 Division 1.4.1959 he served in the riots on Hong Kong [...]
John Soggee is a twice veteran. He served in the armed forces in the parachute Regiment and after joined the Metropolitan Police Service. We were able to honour both of his service careers with the Metropolitan Police coffin drape on his coffin throughout the cortege and at the church service and upon arrival at the [...]
